Application of markings to surfaces



Patented' .1a-ly z, 194s Paul E. James, Mansfield, Ohio, assigner to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania application January as, 1942, serial No. 428,492

l 4 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to the application of markings, such as indicia, legends and ornamentation,.to the surfaces of members, more particularly in combination with painted surfaces. The markings may be applied in the process Vof applying colored protective finishes to members andl form an integral part of the protective finish.

Heretofore whenever indicia, legends or ornamentation have been applied to the painted surfaces of members, it has been necessary, as a rule, to apply the appropriate markings by superimposing them on the organic finish comprising the painted surface. Markings so produced material after the processing of the material to Numerous commercial articles from metals, wood, fibrous materials of all types and similar materialsy of construction are completed in manufacture at the present time by the application of a protective organic finish to the surface of the final shape has been substantially completed. Organic finishes so applied have the general funca tion of protecting the underlying material from were subjected to rapid wearing away due to their surface position( Even the normal cleansing of the member bearing the markings resulted ina disproportionate deterioration and removal of the substance comprising the marking with the consequent blurring and illegibility. The apl plied markings consequently were rapidly scratched, abraded and washed off, so that they I quickly became faint and shabby in appearance.

The object of this invention is to provide for marking painted surfaces by applying coloring material as an integral part of the paint on the A surfaces.

Another object of the'linvennon is to provide for so applying coloringmaterial as markings to-predetermlned areas of a painted surface of a different colorl that the surface maybe repainted with the applied coloring material pene- 4 trated through the repainted surface.

. l 1^ Other objects will, in part', be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter in the specification and claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational viewof a prior art type of marking on a painted surface;

Fig. 6 is a section of Fig. 5 on the line VI-IVI;

Fig. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the invention; l

Fig. 8 is a section of Fig. 'l on the line VIII- VIII; and

Fig. 9 shows the.

invention-applied to a refrigerator.

sectional view on Fig. 3 of line` corrosion, rusting, rotting or deterioration, as well as providing for a body colorandfor decorative appearance. In addition to a general application of organic finish for such purposes, it is customary to apply thereover ornamentation comprising applications of a differently colored finish in the form of stripes, borders, and numerous other coniigurations. In some cases, trade-names and trade-marks are applied by superimposing appropriate substances over the protective organic finish in order to acquaint the trade with the source and type of product. In some cases, legends describing modes of operation and precautions to be exercised in handling the device are also applied in this manner. Furthermore, name-plates and equivalent data; including serialnu'mber, model number, date of manufacture and other pertinent information may be applied to apparatus by means of paint applied through stencils or stamps to'the exterior surface of the protective 'organic finish. o

The application of legends, indicia and ornamentation to ageneral -painted coating or protective organic finish, such as described, and their equivalent will be designated hereinafter as markinga As'a rule, the markings are not intended to contribute materially to the protection of the surfaces underlying the protective ortive or informative purposes.

Markings applied to the exteriorsurface of the painted members are most effective-if they re.-

.tain their configuration and do not fade or other-m wise deteriorate any more rapidly than the body of the paint.` 'Towever, due to the relatively raised and exposed position in'which the markings vare applied, they are subjectedl to more wear than the main body of the protective organic finish.

In cleaning the members, for example, the edges of'the markings are subjected to considerable wear due to the fact that the markings stand above the surface of the organic finish. The

cleansing tool or implement tends to abrade they exposed markings much more, rapidly than the remainder of the organic finish. Ordinary wear itwillbeno plied to painted surfaces or, more generally, to

protective organic nishes upon surfaces of members as an integral part of the protective organicl finish. Therefore, the markings, while standing `out visually from the remainder of the painted;

surface, are substantially an integral part of the same smooth painted surface and are subjected to wear and tear in the same proportion as the reresinous film-forming additions to the film-,forming materia-ls, the solvents including high boiling-point materials which mainder of the organic finish. In addition, thev markings are applied so rapidly and simply by meansY of the invention to be disclosed that it constitutes a matter of great economy to apply markings by the process' of the invention. The markings may be applied as any contrasting color s in combination with a protective organic nish of any type, form or color. Other advantages of the invention will be outlined hereinafter.

.As an example of the prior art practice of applying markings, reference should be had to` Fig. 1 showing a member I0 carrying such applied marking. 'I'he member IIJ comprises a body I2 of suitable material and a protective organic ilnish coating I4 upon its surface. The protective coating I4 may include primer coatings and subsequent iinish coatings in any combination. 'I'he protective coating I4 has a surface which is fin- -ished in .the desired eoior and with predetermined smoothness and gloss. It is a completely 1 iinished article except rer the marking is which is subsequently applied thereto. In the .example of Fig. 1, the marking I6 comprises an indicia composed of the letter "W." The indicia has been applied, for example, by means of a perforated stencil and a layer of organic finish deposited through the stencil perforation upon the protected coating I4. In other cases, the indicia l 1 I6 has been adecalcomania which has been adhesively applid to the coating I4. In any event,

surface of coating I4 and is, therefore, subject to be abraded and worn prematurely, as mentioned herein, which, in some cases, may reflect upon the quality of the manufacture of thedevice.

dyes which are soluble in one of the constituents vof the protective organic nish may be so' applied in combination with the organic finish thatthe dye produces markings integral with the organic s finish Reference should be had to Figs. s ena 4 of the drawing showing oneform of the applicav l tion of the invention. 'Ihe member I2 carries a` l protective coating I4 applied to one entire surface. 'The coating carries as an integral part thereof anorganic dye in the form ofthe indicia l I 8- comprising a"W. By reference to Fig. 4, it '1 will be noticed that the indicia I8 is not upraised above the level of the coating Il, but extends substantially entirely through the thickness of the l coating I4 to the base member l2, and is substanmay .serve as plasticizers or in other functions, and low boiling-point solvents to thin the finish to facilitateapplication to surfaces' and subsequently rapidly evaporating from .the nlm-forming resins to produce an effective protective coating. The protective finish' need not contain added pigments or other coloring material, but the invention will function as satisfactorily if pigments or other coloring matter are added to produce any predetermined color of painted surface. It is intended to include synthetic resin lacquers, enamels, varnishes and other commonly employed iinishes in the scope of this invention.

A The'invention consists of the application, in

4combination with the protective finishes, of organic dyes characterized by solubility in a solvent which is employed in the organic finish. For instance, in combination with nitro-cellulose lacquers and enamels containing polar type solvents, various aniline dyes have been quite successfully employed as marking materials. Aniline blue, fuchsine and malachite green are examples of some of the successfully applied organic aniline dyes. Other dyes soluble in polar type solvents such as methylene violet, nigrosin, Congo red, indigo carmine, and eosin .also have been used with satisfactory results. Oil soluble dyes-such as Sudan III and azolitmin have functioned with nitrocellulose base finishes to produceexcellent results. All of the dyes listed have been employed materials and solvents and equally successfully in combination with ureaformaldehyde type of lacquers. Glycerol phthalsame dyes to produce successful markings.

some cases, Melamine enamels have been comced by reference to Fig. 2 that the 1 main body `ofthe indicia IE is elevated above the bined with the organic dye and subjected to high temperature baking with the markings resulting being of the highest degreeof legibility and clearness. Other lacquers have been both air-dried and baked with applied organic dye markings with satisfactory results.

For a mode of application of the invention, reference should be made to Figs. 5 and 6.I The member 20 composed of steel, for example, is coated with a primer 22 which may be conveniently an oil base metal primer which is conventionally baked for ashort period of time. In the next step of the process, the organic dye 24, distially of the same thickness. In` thisv case, the

yindicia will exist as long as coating Il while func- 1 tioning toV give any desired visual impression.

The terms painted surface." and protective solved iny a suitable solvent as will be more speciiically disclosed hereinafter, is applied in pre-v determined coniig-uration corresponding to the marking desired on the primer coating 22 on the member 20. The organic dye generally impregnates and penetrates through the primer to the member 20. Thereafter. the member is treated by spraying the normalnish coating 28 over the primer coating. The finish coating, for'example, in many household appliances consists of a heavily pigmented nitro-cellulose enamel or a urea-formaldehyde enamel. The nish coating having been applied, the member 20 is baked for .a-period of about one hour at a suitable temper- Y ature.

When the member 20 is removed 'from the oven, it will be discovered that organicy dye vhas completely penetrated through the finish coating to produce a clear and legible indicia 26. 'I'he dye 26 is substantially distributed throughout the entire thickness of both finish coat and primer coat. On testing the surface by abrading with an abra'- sive cleaning compound, it will be discovered that both the indicia and the ilnishncoat are equally and uniformly removed.

In case aniline dyes or other water soluble dyes have been used, it has been discoveredthat the application procedure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 produces an indicia which is not water remov- For example. if a'nitro-cellulose base lacquer is to be applied as the finish coating on a member.

able. Panels so prepared have been subjected to running water for many hours without any noticeable washing out of the dye, In humidity tests conducted at 100% humidity and running for hundreds of hours no bleedingof the dyeor washing has occurred, even though the surface of the member will continuously carry a film of moisture during the test. In the case of nonpolar dyes such as SudanIlI, the marking applied in this manner has withstood all tests conductedat high humidities at low and high temperature, and exposure to 1ight, and other deteriorating influences without vany appreciab fading or other undesirable result. i

It is not necessary that the organic dye be applied on the primer coat of the material. though this has been found to comprise the most practical and economicalmethod of applying organic dye markings to members carrying a protective finish. The organic dye may be applied to the bare metal surface or bare metalsurface carrying 'a phosphate or other rust-inhibiting coating.

Thereafter, the primer and the coats of organic finish may be 'applied with the dye penetrating through the thickness thereof to the exposedsurface. relatively uniformly dispersed through the organic finish.v It should be mentioned here that dye marking does not tend to smudge or tend to4 spread irregularly laterally.

In some cases. where the finish coat has already been applied to a member, markings may be produced by applying the dye to the external surface thereof with certain subsequent treatment to protect the dye. Aniline dyes have been applied to the external surface of the paint, and it is found that the dyes will penetrate into the painted surface. It will be appreciated, however,` that since water soluble dyes so applied may tend Y to smudge slightly when a moist rag is run over the surface due to the high concentration there, it is desirable to apply a sealing nlm of transparent lacquer or even pigmented enamel thereover.

Referring to Figs. 'I and 8 of the drawing, there is illustrated the product resulting from this latter mode of applying markings. The steel base member 2li carries a primer coating 22 and finish coating 28 of protective finish.l The organic dye 44 has penetrated into both layers 22 and 2Q as well as into the subsequently applied sealing coating 42 which is shown as a contrasting color area.

It will be found that the dye will be" an aniline base dye, such as indigo carmine, may

be dissolved in transparent nitro-cellulose base lacquer and applied to the primer coating. Equal parts by weight of dye and transparent lacquer are suitable proportions. Shellac, that is the ethyl alcohol solutionof lac, may be used as-the l liquid carrier for the dye. In other cases, -a special type of carrier may be prepared for the dye. Polar type dyes may be dissolved in a mixture of an alcohol plus a high boiling point liquid, such asdiamyl phthalate. A mixture so prepared .does not dry out as rapidly as-ethyl alcohol,

therefore the dye may beapplied more effectively.

Generally the d ye is present in the carrier in larger amounts than is ordinarily present in -ordinary finishes.

The dye solution prepared as indicated may be applied to members by any one of numerous means. The organic dye, for-example, may be 'or' a spray gun having a suitably adjusted spray.

Several dyes may be applied adjacent one another., Other methods of application of the dyes in predetermined coloring form and amount will be readily evident.

The combination of organic finish and dye to produce predetermined markings has been applied to glass, phenol formaldehyde moldings,

polystyrene molding, acetabutyrate moldings,l cellulosel acetate moldings, and other plastics,

as well as wood and steel. The organic dye'has been applied in combination with many protective nishes. White finishes, gray' finishes, and

` black finishes have been marked with great success by employing contrasting color dyes.

As an example of the finished product, reference should beY made to Fig. 9, showing a commercial type of refrigerator 30. The refrigerator comprises a door 32 painted a glossy white which carries as markings, three vertical stripes 34, 36 and 3l, and a trade name plate 40. The overall surface of the door 32 is composed of a pigmented, white urea-formaldehyde type of organic flnish. The stripes 34, 3B and 38 may consist of an organic dye, for example, Sudan III applied as an integral part thereof. The name plate '40 is composed of an` aniline blue dye appliedas an The sealing coating 42 serves` to maintain the effectiveness of the dye 44. This method may be used on articles already painted when purchased. Thus painted delivery trucks may be marked by the purchaser with the owners name and buslness, with a final sealing coat of transparent lacquer applied over the markings.

In applying the `dye to the organic finish, it has been discovered that the dyes, which generally are solids or powders, are best applied in a solvent or liquid carrier. Rapid drying solvents are not as4 convenient carriers for the dye as compared .with slower evaporatlng liquid carriers. It has been found that the dye may be applied with highly satisfactory results if the dye is dissolved vin a transparent or clear organic finish of the integral part thereof according to the procedure shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Previously, decalcomanias had been used for the .trade-mark 4|! and had been found to be so lacking insufficient life with attractive appearance' that it was necessary to emboss or indent the panel 32 to provide a protective depression for the decalcomania. By means of this invention, this operation on the door has been eliminated.

In-a household appliance such as the refrigeratorl shown'in Fig. 9, it is customary to apply to the back thereof certain indicia indicatingv the model number, vserial number,` and other desirable information. a dye is applied in the manner disclosed herein to the back of the refrigerator, particularly if a nitro-cellulose base liquid is applied as a finishing same type as the finish coating on the member. u coating. though not limited to this lacquen'that It has been found that whenthe surface may be repainted with subsequent applications of nitro-cellulose lacquer and the indicia will penetrate through the subsequent lacquercoatings and be legible. As many as three successive repainting's have been applied over indicia of this type and the indicia have been per- I fectly transparent and legible after each repainting ljob. 'There is a slight diminution of the intensity of the dye with each'repainting so that the markings become less clear, and it would not be desirable to repaint, for example, ve or six times. For most practical purposes,` ability to undergo two or three repaintings is suiicient.

a primerrcoating and a nisli coatingythe iinishy coating composed of organic resins andhaving a given color, predetermined areas of the protective coating being of a diiierent color than said given color, the diierent color composed of an organic dye applied to the finish coating and j penetrating through substantially the entire Heretofore, when refrigerators have been repaired, occasionally the backs have been repainted, thereby covering up the information carried thereon. However, by means of the present invention, such repainting does not aiect the in- )dicia and the information is just as legible after repainting as before. Since no other information application known is capable of functioning to withstand repainting and still show up in contrasting` colors, the present'invention presents a decided advantage. v

Since certain obvious changs may be made in the. above processes, anddiierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all material contained in the above description or taken'in connection with the accompanying draw-y ing shall be interpreted as a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention: 1. An article of manufacture comprising a member, a' protective coating of a substantially illustrative and not in uniform thickness applied to the surface of the member,-the protective coating composed of 'a primer coating and a finish coating, theflnish coating having a given c'olor and including or-" ganic resins, and predetermined areas of the coating having'a diiferent color to provide for markings, the diil'erent color comprising an organic dye applied to the primer coating and extending substantially through the entire thickness of primer and finish coatings, the` nlsh thickness of the protective coating, and a sealing coating applied to the predetermined areas to lessen .deterioration of the organic dye, the 0rv ganic dye extending through the thickness of the sealing coating.

3. 'Ihe method of applying markings to a I member having a surface painted with a coating composition having a given color, comprising ap'- plying to the member an organic dye soluble in a solvent employed in the coating composition, the organic dye being so applied as to produce the markings desired, applying the coating composition paint upon the base .member over the applied dye, whereby the dye penetrates thethickv ness of the applied coating composition and is lvisible at the surface, and drying the painted surface'.

4. The method of producing an article with a j painted surface carrying colored markings, comi` prising applying a primer coating material to the article. drying the primer coat, applying an organic dye to the dry primer coat in a configuration corresponding to the -desired colored markings, applying. a finish coating to the article, the

finish coating including iilm forming resins and a solvent for the resins capable of dissolving the organic dye whereby the dye penetrates both into the primer coats and through the nish coating, and treating the' finish coating to dry and harden the coating. \v

PAUL E. JAL/ms. 

